I will never forget the feeling I had when I first visited Santa Barbara. My husband surprised me for my 31st birthday with a trip there and I thought to myself, "This is paradise!" Granted, we were stationed in the barren Mojave desert at Edwards AFB in California, so I was slightly starved of vegetation and gorgeous sceneries. Yet, pretty much anyone who goes here is taken by the beauty of it. Santa Barbara isn't huge and it's hugged by a ring of mountains. It feels fresh, relaxed and inviting. Whenever I am trapped in the doldrums of cold winter months, my mind drifts to Santa Barbara and all the sunshine, color, and warm air. It's definitely one of my favorite cities in the U.S.

I've been to Santa Barbara many times since that first trip and I've loved every adventure there. I never want to leave when it's time to go home. For this blog, I will recommend two places to stay. One of them is hands-down the best bed and breakfast ever! I will give you four things to do when you visit. The restaurant scene changes frequently, so I'll give you only one place to eat, but there are plenty of unique, local restaurants to try. Lastly, I'll give you a Catholic must-see.

PLACES TO STAY

Cheshire Cat Inn

I'm a hotel snob. I once had to stay in the worst motel in the United States and it was a traumatic experience for me. Ever since then, my tastes will only accept hotels in the 5-star range. ;) I found my dream bed and breakfast in the Cheshire Cat Inn. We had a family trip with my sister, brother and his wife, their kids and our parents to Santa Barbara and we all stayed at the Inn. Each room is themed after an Alice in Wonderland character. Don't think Disney theme-park. Think elegance, beauty, creativity, and charm.

They have tea, wine, and hors'deouvres each day for guests. The breakfast is scrumptious. There is a garden out back to relax in while enjoying your wine. I loved strolling the grounds and admiring all the brilliant flowers. Trust me when I say, this is a place you want to stay. It's not super close to the beach, but you won't care--it's close enough. My sister and I will, every now and then, just text each other and say, "Cheshire Cat." We stayed there in 2011 and after all these years, we still pine away for it.  If you do have a larger family, they have little cozy cottages across the street to stay in.

Hotel Milo

If you are wanting to stay right across from the beach, I would recommend Hotel Milo. It was called something different when I stayed there, but it's mostly the same. The location is ideal and the rooms are clean, coastal, and bright. This is where we stayed for my birthday. It's a luxurious place with all the amenities--pool, fitness room, bike rentals, and free parking.

WHAT TO DO

Hiking

Remember how I said that Santa Barbara is hugged by mountains? Well, one thing I would recommend is getting out on them for a hike. You will have some awesome views, I assure you. There are all levels of hikes, too, so no fear if you are a beginner. My dad, brother, and husband hiked a trail and ended up in the clouds. They also did some wade pool hopping of which there are some good videos.  

Botanical Gardens

The whole city of Santa Barbara is like one huge botanical garden. Everywhere you turn are lush, vibrant flowers. My family spent a few hours in the actual botanical gardens and there is so much to see. Your kids will love exploring the grounds.

The Beach

Need I say more? There is no hustle and bustle in Santa Barbara and relaxing on the beach is a great way to spend a whole day. Grab a blanket, book, water toys, and enjoy!

Rent a Surrey or Bikes

Santa Barbara is a place where you want to spend all your time outside. The last time we were there, we rented a surrey that fit our whole family and cruised up and down the paths that run along the coast. It was so much fun and a great way to exercise. There are plenty of places to rent bikes and surreys.

PLACE TO EAT

Lilac Patisserie

State Street in Santa Barbara is the main road with tons of shops and restaurants. Any type of cuisine you wish you try is available. My favorite place is Lilac Patisserie. It's a dedicated gluten-free restaurant but don't be scared off if you aren't gluten-intolerant. You'll never know you aren't eating gluten. I stood and drooled in front of their bakery display for 30 minutes trying to decide what to pick. Their sandwiches and soups are delicious, but the desserts are what will blow your mind. Go hungry because you will want to try all the things.

CATHOLIC MUST SEE

Mission Santa Barbara

This was the first mission I ever visited and ever since then, I've been hooked on missions. There are 21 and I've been to nine of them. Mission Santa Barbara is considered the most beautiful and it's hard to argue with that. The mission sits high up on a hill and overlooks the town of Santa Barbara and the coast below. Looking out to the water, you can just imagine Old World Spanish ships out on the ocean.

I recommend taking a picnic and eating it on the expansive lawn in front of the mission. There is a rose garden to enjoy and kids will love running around on the lawn. The views are wonderful and the air smells sweet of rose blossoms. Be sure to take the tour and enjoy the history of the mission. The mission was built in 1786 and walking through it is a step back in time. I'm a convert to the faith and all I ever heard about the missions was that the Spanish enslaved the Native American Indians. Visiting the missions and learning about them debunked that theory. You can see all throughout the missions how the Indians and Spanish priests worked together to grow food, build aqueducts, and raise animals. There were hundreds of Indians and very few Spanish. If the Indians had wanted to leave, they could have at any time--and some did, but most wanted to stay.

Be sure to allow yourself plenty of time to explore. If you can, attend service here. Our Catholic Faith is all over this city from being named after St. Barbara to having one of the most popular missions in California. I know you'll have a great time visiting.

Until next time, travel well, Catholic Pilgrims!